outboard engineer

[Chris1956]

Re: outboard engineer

Jim, I am not sure what part of retail your son works in, but Systems, Electrical, Software and Mechanical Engineering is normally a much better career than any retail job I know of. Pay is better, hours are normally limited to 40/week, benefits are better and work hours do not include weekends.

 

[JimS123]

Re: outboard engineer

Jim, I am not sure what part of retail your son works in, but Systems, Electrical, Software and Mechanical Engineering is normally a much better career than any retail job I know of. Pay is better, hours are normally limited to 40/week, benefits are better and work hours do not include weekends.

That's what I would have guessed as well....until my son got a few promotions. He's not a cashier in a Supermarket, he's second level store management.

The store manager's salary is 6 figures, with a bonus almost as much. The typical manager retires at 59 1/2 with a 7 figure portfolio. He works only 3 days a week, but 12 hour days. Its a rotating schedule so he may work 1 or 2 weekends a month. His boss only has an associate's degree.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: outboard engineer

Jim, That sounds very good. I would never have thought that profession was that lucrutive. Maybe I can retire from my Engineering job and take up retail.

 

[coolguy147]

Re: outboard engineer

Jim, That sounds very good. I would never have thought that profession was that lucrutive. Maybe I can retire from my Engineering job and take up retail.

lol retail

i'm not sure what to do now. they're are so many more routes to go.

 

[JimS123]

Re: outboard engineer

lol retail

i'm not sure what to do now. they're are so many more routes to go.

That's a decision for YOU to have to make. The answer rests on where your hopes, dreams and desires lie. Is your aim to make tons of money, have lots of time off, be important and run things, or just lie back and take it easy? With importance comes lots of money, but stress as well. Pursuing a dream in a small industry may come with lower job security. You get the picture!

I've been a Chem Engr for over 40 years. Started as a Junior Engineer, worked up to Managing an Engineering Department, then ran my own Consulting Business. Now I'm back in the plant tackling every day problems, keeping the plant running and working with uncooperative union employees. In essence I've returned to where I was 30 years ago, but it turns out that was where I was happiest!

 

[Chris1956]

Re: outboard engineer

Coolguy, One more thing. Jobs tend to come with lifestyles. You may have heard the term "He lived an Artist's life" applied to actors, painters, authors etc. Engineering also has a lifestyle as do many other professions. Engineers tend to be analytical, practical (some might say boring and cheap), and excited to solve problems. They also earn top pay, if you coun't count the "wall street" types, and engineers make a real difference in peoples quality of living.

I would recommend you earn a college degree in something, with an eye toward using this training on some field that has jobs in it. Generally any college degree is good, however, actually being trained in the field in which you work has real advantage.

I cannot recommend retail as a goal, as there are too many low-paying jobs that require many hours of your time, just to pay your bills. (sorry Jim). In addition, if you work with smart people (read as degreed), I think it is a better environment, than the alternative. Just my .02

 

[JimS123]

Re: outboard engineer

Jim, That sounds very good. I would never have thought that profession was that lucrutive. Maybe I can retire from my Engineering job and take up retail.

A close friend has a Masters in Education, taught school, Managed a business, then retired and collected several pensions. After a year he got bored and took a job in WalMart as the lowest grunt in the stockroom. He surely doesn't need the money, just does it to amuse himself.

You're totally right about the NEED for a degree. No matter what field you aspire to. What you chose, though, has to float your boat. Nothing worse than being in a job or field you despise.

Engineering takes more than going to school. I've hired a bunch in my day - some good and some not so good. My position is that you have to BE an Engineer to work as one. That means you have to be one even before you go to the University. Nothing worse than a kid that has a Masters In Engr. but doesn't even know which end of the screwdriver goes in the hole!

 

[coolguy147]

Re: outboard engineer

lol boring and cheap

i love solving problems as long as it doesn't involve a stripped screw or broken bolt or something.....hate those with a passion.

for now i have to get through high school and get accepted into Harvard....j.k

 

[coolguy147]

Re: outboard engineer

lol i think i have plenty of experience with that

i'm trying to get a job at a machine shop and he might hire me when his son leaves. it will be a good experience =) the guy is really nice too!

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: outboard engineer

Engineering takes more than going to school. I've hired a bunch in my day - some good and some not so good. My position is that you have to BE an Engineer to work as one. That means you have to be one even before you go to the University. Nothing worse than a kid that has a Masters In Engr. but doesn't even know which end of the screwdriver goes in the hole!

I agree 100%...I have a buddy that graduated with a degree in Mech Eng from the University of Michigan over ten years ago.

He's never once used the degree(which is one of the best to have for actual engineer).

He wants to be a politician now:facepalm:

 

[dingbat]

Re: outboard engineer

Life has it twists and turns. Sometimes, you just have to take what comes to you.

I spent 3 years in vocational school learning welding. I left high school early to take a job in Baton Rouge working structural steel. I did that for 3 years, got sick of living in hotels and moved back home. I got my GED and took a position as a welder in my present company.

For the next 15 years I went to school at night and worked my way up chain of command. I was the Machine shop Supervisor, Assistant Production Manager, a draftsman, a Mechanical Designer, then the Mechanical Engineering Manager. I then changed paths and took an offer to Head the Project Management group. From there, I took a position as inside Sales Manager and stayed there until they closed the facility in 2003.

I?ve been a Regional Sales Manager / Application Engineer for the company since the closure. Who would thave thought 35 years ago.

 

[JimS123]

Re: outboard engineer

Life has it twists and turns. Sometimes, you just have to take what comes to you.

I spent 3 years in vocational school learning welding. I left high school early to take a job in Baton Rouge working structural steel. I did that for 3 years, got sick of living in hotels and moved back home. I got my GED and took a position as a welder in my present company.

For the next 15 years I went to school at night and worked my way up chain of command. I was the Machine shop Supervisor, Assistant Production Manager, a draftsman, a Mechanical Designer, then the Mechanical Engineering Manager. I then changed paths and took an offer to Head the Project Management group. From there, I took a position as inside Sales Manager and stayed there until they closed the facility in 2003.

I?ve been a Regional Sales Manager / Application Engineer for the company since the closure. Who would thave thought 35 years ago.

The key to your success is highlighted above. Lots of brilliant people out there with unrecognized talent because they didn't realize that success requires hard work.

 

[coolguy147]

Re: outboard engineer

lol hard work is defiantly what every job needs.

i'm just need to work my way up and see what God throws at me basically.

hoping is will be nice

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: outboard engineer

My son started as an EE but quit because he hated it. He's now a manager in retail and makes more $ than any Eng. I know. He works hard but has a lot of time off too. He'll retire in his 50's. If I knew what I know now, I'd go that route. At least he doesn't get calls at midnight to come in to the plant to get it running again! ALL engineers have to put up with that.

Not true, at least for me. I set my own hours (yes, it's always more than 45), and make really good money as a practicing engineer, and never get calls to the plant. They can fix their own broken crap. Not all engineers are tied to production......

 

[JimS123]

Re: outboard engineer

Not true, at least for me. I set my own hours (yes, it's always more than 45), and make really good money as a practicing engineer, and never get calls to the plant. They can fix their own broken crap. Not all engineers are tied to production......

Keep practicing and maybe you'll eventually get it right....LOL (JK)

I'be been on all 4 sides of the fence. First you have designers that work on CAD, but never see a plant on the inside. Then, there is the installer that builds the plant but doesn't stick around to make it run. Next, the startup Engineer that DOES get everything running. And finally, the Plant Engineer that sees that it continues to run and fixes things as they break. All 4 are Engineers, all 4 make good money and all 4 can have satisfaction in completing a job. All depends on your likes and dislikes.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: outboard engineer

Keep practicing and maybe you'll eventually get it right....LOL (JK)

I'be been on all 4 sides of the fence. First you have designers that work on CAD, but never see a plant on the inside. Then, there is the installer that builds the plant but doesn't stick around to make it run. Next, the startup Engineer that DOES get everything running. And finally, the Plant Engineer that sees that it continues to run and fixes things as they break. All 4 are Engineers, all 4 make good money and all 4 can have satisfaction in completing a job. All depends on your likes and dislikes.

Yep. All are necessary and vital. Bless you, I couldn't put up with all of the plant/production drama without choking someone. I'm a product designer by trade and temperament. I get the product all the way from the "blank page" concept to full factory production, then I'm done unless there is a design issue affecting yields, but that sort of stuff shows up in the proto/pre-production phases (usually!). I really have no complaints over how things have gone over the last 25 years.
Coolguy, remember one thing: You will have to be in "learning mode" your entire time you are working. I got my CS degree using punch cards on a mainframe when there was barely an IBM PC. I got my EE when there was not yet a www. Apple just made PCs and were fading fast after firing Steve Jobs. I have to study and learn and try to invent new technology every day, because you can be absolutely sure that somebody else already is.

 

[nightflight]

Re: outboard engineer

Maybe you should look at Naval Architecture. Pure boat and ship design.
Places like US merchant marine academy, US Naval Academy, free education, guaranteed job if you can cut it and if you can get in. USNA is one of the hardest to get in in the country, but they have lots of boats, big ones, small ones, ones float on top, some that sink, and some that fly..